GCS board reinstates track coach position

April 18, 2002|By Hillary Dickerson

As the board entered into discussion on the hiring of the track coach, Karen Leinaar, GCS athletic director, emphasized the position was a reinstatement of a position that was not filled two years ago as a result of budgetary issues. She cited an increase in the number of students participating in the program - from 70 last year to 90 this year - and said the matter is now more of a safety concern. The funding for the coaching position will come from the athletic department budget, Leinaar added.

Well aware of the repercussions of the January decision to hire two additional coaches for the middle school volleyball program, board member Russ Soffredine spoke out immediately against the proposed hiring. "We didn't stick to what we said we were going to do," Soffredine told the board, referring to the middle school issue and suggesting volunteers be used instead for the five weeks remaining.

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Speaking on the safety issue, board president Richard Hoyner offered his support of the hiring. Hoyner, who cited three track deaths in the United States this year, said the difference between the hiring of the two volleyball coaches and the other sports which have since requested funding is that both the volleyball and track programs already are supported by the district and are not new to the funding arena.

Board member Chris Collins agreed. "I have a problem when this board can't be flexible."

Soffredine and Linda Davis voted in opposition, but other board members - Hoyner, Collins, Scot Zimmerman, Marilyn Crawford and Natalie Davis - favored the hiring, granting their stamp of approval to the hiring of the coach.

Earlier, during the public input portion of the meeting, Lisa Bakker, coach of the bowling team, gave a brief presentation about the program's merits. Entirely self-funded, the club has operated for the past five years and, Bakker said, if the Michigan High School Athletic Association adopts the sport, Gaylord's club would be back at the beginning of the process and out of the conference.

Bakker's proposal was for the board to retroactively grant the club varsity status for the past year and in the future. She also asked - after two years - the board consider funding the sport at approximately $6,950 per season.

Once again revisiting the middle school volleyball situation, board members proceeded with caution.

Leinaar explained the cost to the district would be only for the varsity letters - estimated at less than $100 per year. She assured the board there would be no hidden costs.

The major concern board members expressed was whether granting varsity status and the request to eventually fund the program could be separated, freeing the board of any future funding responsibility. "And two years from now, you won't say the board promised to fund the program?" questioned Hoyner.

Bakker noted the club would be willing to separate the proposal, accepting only varsity status for the sport and not holding the board to obligatory funding.

In addition to financial issues, the board also probed Leinaar on eligibility requirements for the bowling team as members considered their decision. The athletic director noted the bowling team would fall under the same standards to which every other athlete is held and a check could be done before granting retroactive varsity letters for the past season.

Still, not all board members were convinced. "It bothers me that this school becomes everything to everybody," said Soffredine, adding that some groups need not, in his opinion, be supported by the school system. Soffredine reasoned there has to be a cutoff point.

With Soffredine the lone dissenter, the other six board members voted in favor of granting varsity status contingent upon grade eligibility and with no financial obligations.